The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-06

Coukllng. who informed me that my name had
been sent to the Senate that very morning
minister to Copenhagen. The change in the GUS
tom house at New York had been made which
brought about the famous political contest be-
tween Garfield aud Blaine on one side, and Grant
ConkHng and Arthur ON the other. Robertson,
whose course at Chicago had secured the defeat
of Grant, and who was therefore the man in the
whole country most Objectionable to Grant and
his partisans, was made collector Of New York.
although. according to all the recognized rules
of political comfy, Conkling should have been
consulted; and Merritt, the friend and appointee
OF Sherman, was ousted to make room for Rob-
ertson. was removed from London in favor of
Merritt; General Grants brother-inaw, Mr.
Cramer, the charge daffaires at Denmark was
displaced for me. and Mr.. Nicholas Fish, the son
OF Grants Secretary of State was removed from
the position or charge at Berne to make room
for Cramer. Merritt Cramer and I were all
placed where we did not wish to be, and Fish
lost his position altogether. All this had been
done without any premonition or warning to
Grant, who bad seen the President two days be-
fore, and received his assurances of friendship
and Difference.
Ofcourse the President had the right to make
what changes he pleased in the public service
but Grant thought that after what he had done
to secure Garfield's election he should have been
consulted in the disposition made of his personal
friends, and he felt that the changes were in
tended to be offensive him. But although
greatly amazed he at first withheld any public
expression Of opinion. He telegraphed to me on
the Oath of March in these words: "See the
President at once with my letter. Ask him to
withdraw your nomination, and if he cannot
leave you in London. ask him to give you either
Italy or naval Office in this city. Show him this
place" AT the executive mansion I
met Merritt, who had come on from
New York to save himself from taking my place,
and as we walked up the stairs-to the American
sale de pas perdus-we laughed at each other,
and each declared he did not wish for change.
The President and were old acquaintance He
mad been my guest more than once in Washing
ton. He told me he had supposed l would like
the new arrangement, which was nominal pro-
motion so far as l was concerned; was to have
a pleasant and easy diplomatic post instead of
busy consular one; higher in rank and with les-
ure sufficient to enable me to prosecute nv lit
erary pursuits. He disclaimed any intention of
disappearing me or of displeasing General Grant;
but he gave me no reason to suppose he would
change his plans.
When reported the result of my interview to
General Grant he telegraphed me again: Il ad-
| wise you to decline Copenhagen and stick to
London, unless you can get naval Office or Italy,
| or some equally good place. Advise with Conk-
| ling and Platr It would be better to come here
without government appointment than to take
Copenhagen" My relatives and personal friends
gave me different advice, and thought l would
Go better to accept the mission to Denmark;
bnt considered myself bound to defer to Gen.
Grant, and finally requested the President to
withdraw my nomination charge to Copen-
| hagen This he did, but offered me no other
appointment. and he did not recall that of
Merritt, SO that if Merritt should be
altogether 1 remained few weeks
| in Washington, consulting not only with Sena-
| tors Conkliug and Logan, but constantly with
ice-presldent Arthur, and once returning to
New York to take the advice of General Grant.
| saw the President several times, and he sent
| his secretary to me more than once to urge me
| to accept the appointment to Copenhagen, as
| that would relieve MIN from the appearance of
l MAJ n r., L,,k
l could not disooey the Injunction of my own
| chief
! General Grants urgency in the matter was by
| no means solely on my account, although he ad-
mitted in letters that were published at the time
his interest for me and for his brother in law
| But the instinct of fight was aroused in the SOL
| der. He thought, besides, that he had deserved
| different treatment at Garield's hand and he
| felt the nomination of Robertson more keenlv
| than the removal of Cramer or Fish. or me-
| 1t is needless to repeat the story SO recent and
| so We'll known. Garfield remained firm, but the
| nominations were all opposed in the Senate; Ire
| turned to my post in England to await the result
and General Grant went to Mexico on business.
| From there he wrote to me- IL will never again
| lend my aid to the support of presidential can
| didate who has not strength enough to appear
| before convention as a candidate, but gets In
simply by the adherents of prominent candi-
| dates preferring any outsider to either of the
candidates before the convention save their own. y
| In June however, he sent me word that he
|
| Copenhagen mission, and replied that if had
| his full sanction / should like to do so rather
| than leave the public service. Accordingly the
| matter was arranged through General Horace
| Porter and Robert Lincoln, the Secretary of
| War. Mr.. Lincoln obtained a promise from
| the President that l should be appointed again
| to Copenhagen, if would pledge myself in ad-
vance to- accept the post. But before this ar
rangement could be carried out Garfield was
struck down by the assassin.
General Grant had in the meantime returned
| to the North and gone to his home at Long
Branch. Both Conkling and Plat had resigned
| their positions as Senator. and after a long
| struggle at Albany their successors were elected.
| Grants indignation had been somewhat molli
fed, and when Garfield visited long Branch the
| General called him and the President ex
pressed great satisfaction at the courtesy. Never
| theless General Grant had fully sympathized
with the feeling of Mr.. Conking and Vice -pres
dent Arthur, and had come in for his share OF
unpopularity with those who supported Gar
field as we'll as with that large proportion of the
community that always worshps power. l re
member that my publishers assured me that the
sale OF my history of Grants campaigns which
appeared at this time, was greatly Injured by
the course that General Grant took at this crisis
The people said they wanted no more of Grant
When Garfield was shot the public indigna
ton in some quarters was even turned toward
his predecessor. and there were found those who
were willing for day two to believe tina
General Grant not dispeased at the awful
fate of the President. Of course this unjus
clamor was only momentary, and never genu
inc, but it was strange to see any portion of the
public directing such suspicious toward the mar
who not year before had been the object O.
ovations greater than any other American had
. received. 1t would be preposterous to offer tt
vindicate his fame from such aspersions now
| but a letter that he wrote me on the subject viii
nevertheless be interesting. On the 9th O
July ne said
II am just this day in receipt of two letter
from you of the latter part OF June Why the!
have been so long coming cannot conceive.
few days after your letters written, as yo,
know, the dastardly attempt was made upon tn
, Presidents life. This, of course, has put stol
to all communications on the subject of foreign
appointments-in fact, all presidential appoint